Serving the High Plains

Local round up

Meth trafficker sentenced to five years in prison

An Oklahoma man was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised probation in federal court in Albuquerque on Tuesday.

Ruben Fuentes, Jr., 38, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was charged with trafficking 13.45 pounds of methamphetamine near Tucumcari in 2016 after more than 13 pounds of methamphetamine were seized by New Mexico State Police during a traffic stop on March 10, 2016, on Interstate 40 in Quay County.

Fuentes was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and booked into the Quay County Detention Center. Fuentes pled guilty in September 2016.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of Homeland Security Investigations and the NMSP.

NM Department of Ag to hold public hearings

PORTALES — The New Mexico Department of Agriculture will hold public hearings across the state to discuss the adoption and amendment of two rules, according to an NMDA press release.

The hearings will be held to propose the repeal and adoption of the “Organic Agriculture” rule and amendments to the “Pasteurized Milk Ordinance,” as well as to receive public comment on each proposal, the release said.

Hearings for the two topics will be held back-to-back from 2–3 p.m. and 3:30–4:30 p.m. July 6 at the Roosevelt County Extension Office.

“During the Organic Agriculture hearings, the new fee structure for the Department’s Organic Program will be proposed,” the release said. “During the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance hearings, amendments will be proposed. These amendments add a reference to additional documents that are used to regulate milk and milk products in New Mexico.”

A copy of the proposed rule is available at http://www.nmda.nmsu.edu.